APRIL 2018

Amy Soper 4/05/--Melissa Nowland 4/07/--Callen Pickett 4/08/10Barb Nonnemacher 4/10/--Keri Pickett 4/11/--Dawn Snyder 4/14/--Robert Brown, Sr. 4/15/--Debbie Minturn 4/17/--Joshua Petlock 4/19/--McKenna Mapes 4/22/05Tifany Kilmer 4/23/--Mollee Kay Warner 4/25/15Jacque Sznaider 4/28/14Rob McCarty 4/28/--

Wyalusing Presbyterian Church79 Church Street

Gone to GloryJEANETTE

CHAMBERLINMARCH 4, 2018

MARGARET DABBACKMarch 6, 2018

Ruth & Robert Brown4/24/48

Shirley & Jim Howard4/24/48

Lynn & John Petlock4/-3/76

John & Barb Howard4/12/11

After death, I expect … nothing. But in the dim light of dawn, Jesus, you speak my name,as you did to Mary. You are alive! — which means I am too! Alleluia!

Easter is eternal If Easter means anything to modern man, it means that eternal truth is eternal. You may nail it to the tree, wrap it up in grave clothes and seal it in a tomb. But truth crushed to earth shall rise again.

Truth does not perish. It cannot be destroyed. It may be distorted. It has been silenced temporarily. It has been compelled to carry its cross to Calvary’s brow … but with an inevitable certainty, after every Black Friday dawns truth’s Easter morn. —Donald H. Tippet

the

The FRONT PORCH is the monthly newsletter of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church located at 179 Church Street in the heart of Wyalusing Pennsylvania. The vision of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church is to nurture faith inJesus Christ, and through that faith, reach out to all people in Christian love. Phone: 570-746-3333 E-mail: wpchurch@ptd.net web site: www.wyalusingpc.org APRIL 2018

Paul Pourri : “The Easter Egg Hunt That Unnerved A Pastor”It seemed like a good idea at the time.

The annual Easter egg hunt at Good Lord Community Church was a highlight, happening for the children right after the 10 a.m. youth and family communion hymn festival. Each year, following a joyous dismissal by Pastor Jeff Mutton, the children follow him down the aisle during a trumpet laden recessional of Jesus Christ b e i n g r i s e n indeed,where they then run out the door and look for little plastic eggs hidden in the front lawn, putting them in white paper lunch bags they had just decorated with construction paper angels and sleeping soldiers glued on one side and personalized with names in crayons on the other.

The problem was that Pastor Mutton had offered to take care of the eggs this year, filling in for the egg hunt coordinators of the last decade – Mrs. Kensington, who went full-time at the hospital, and Patty Townes, who was pregnant.

On Palm Sunday, Pastor Mutton realized he had forgotten to do anything about the 2,500 eggs that needed to be filled with candy and hidden in another week, and in his panic, he agreed to let the junior high class have the project.

Easter morning, during the processional, pastor walked past Phil, the ringleader of the boy side of the junior high youth group, and thought of all the questionable things that could be put in those eggs. He realized that he hadn't seen anyone out in the front yard, when there should have been a dozen or more people hiding eggs. As he sent the children downstairs with Mrs. Merkel, he wondered if the bags would simply go home empty because he put a big responsibility into a bevy of irresponsible hands.

As he was preaching, it suddenly occurred to him that not only is it Easter Sunday, but April Fools' Day as well. For the first time in 25 years of Easter Sundays, the pastor was not thinking, "Indeed," when he said, "He is Risen." He tried to walk slowly down the aisle, to delay the inevitable, but the children ran around him to get outside. He just sighed and stayed in to greet the people, hoping not for the best, but for something other than the worst. "Great idea, pastor," one parent called back from the front steps. "Sure saves a lot of time," another said. "Best Easter egg hunt ever," another exclaimed. Pastor Mutton peeked out the door. There on the steps were baskets of candy for children to grab and put in their bags, like an Easter version of Trick or Treat. Instead of filling the 2500 plastic eggs with candy, the junior

Many churches nationwide have been holding Holy Humor Sunday services on the Sunday after Easter as an ongoing celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. It's a revival of a very old Greek Christian custom going back to the third century. The Greek Christians called it "Bright Sunday." There is typically a small turnout for church services on the Sunday after Easter, but Holy Humor Sunday services are attracting crowds as large as Easter Sunday crowds. So you can see how many churches celebrated Holy Humor Sunday here are some examples of churches celebrating this fun Sunday! Sunday:

Laughing Lutherans Pastor Ashley Nichols of St. Andrews Lutheran Church of Whittier, CA, began the church's third annual Holy Humor Sunday celebration by reading the following from the Joyful Newsletter: "For centuries, in Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant countries, 'Bright Sunday' (the Sunday after Easter) was observed by the faithful as a 'day of joy and laughter' with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. The custom of the celebrations was rooted in the musings of early church theologians (like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom) that God played a practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. Easter was God's supreme joke played on death. The early theologians called it 'Risus Paschalis' – the Easter laugh." St. Andrew Lutheran Church celebrated Holy Humor Sunday with the theme "Laughing Lutherans – the Wit of Martin Luther," marking the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The congregation was encouraged to dress up in their Lutheran clothing. Some wore T-shirts that proclaimed "Lutherans, we're more than just donuts and coffee," "Lutefisk Chef," and "I Love Lefse." One even wore a Viking helmet. Pastor Nichols reported the worship service began with the popping of a black balloon, representing Christ's victory over death and God's joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead. …Worship featured old Lutheran hymns like "A Might Fortress," "Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice,"… more contemporary songs included "Here I Stand” by Valerie Nicolls and "Martin the German" by Chris P. Matthy, set to the tune of "Frosty the Snowman." Martin the German was a sorry, mixed up soul, 'Cause he thought it odd that a loving God Would condemn him straight to hell. Martin the German even took a sacred vow When a lighting strike nearly took his life But St. Anne stepped in somehow. It must have seemed like magic when Old Habbukuk he found. 'Cause when he read God saves by faith, He began to dance around. O, Martin the German felt reborn again that day, And he spread the word from old Wittenberg All the way to Rome, they say. Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump, Nail them to the door; Thumpitty thump thump, thumpitty thump thump, Hear those Theses roar! …The

following examples of modern Lutheran humor were also offered: You might be a Lutheran if... "Sharing the peace takes more time than the sermon." "Your biggest fund-raisers are bake sales or pastry sales instead of bingo." "You're watching a Star Wars movie and they say, 'May the Force be with you,' and you reply, 'And also with you.'" …

HOLY HUMOR SUNDAY - - Ask yourself, 'Am I the kind of person God would friend on the Internet?'

A baseball-themed service The Niantic (CT) Baptist Church celebrated its 16th annual Holy Humor Sunday with a baseball-themed service. Rev. Jill Harvey reported that folks were invited to dress in baseball uniforms and to "come out and root for God's All-Stars." Everyone received a box of Cracker Jack. Musical offerings included "The Star Spangled Banner," "Take Me Out to God's Ballgame," and "Sweet Risen Lord." Pastor Harvey, garbed in a vintage baseball uniform, threw out the first pitch and preached a sermon titled "Taking One for the Team," in which she discussed the "theology of baseball." She composed this song, titled "Take me out to God's Ball Game," to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game": Take me out to God's ball game Take me out with God's team.Buy me some root beer and holy franks, We'll love our neighbors; it's God whom they'll thank. So it's root, root, root for God's home team! Believers, all tried and true Not just one, two, three days a year, But our whole lives through! Take me out to God's ball game Where God's people rejoice. Sing "hallelujah" and "praise the Lord!" We know the tunes so we'll never get bored And we're celebrating God's vict'ry: Satan is out of the game! So we'll shout that Jesus now lives And we'll praise his name! "The congregation thought we struck a home run with this service,"

GOD INVENTED HUGS to let people know you love them without saying anything

Rev. Harvey said. God's joke on the devil Rev. Paul Lintern reported that both of the churches he pastors – Oakland Lutheran Church and Southside Christian Church in Mansfield, OH – celebrated Holy Humor Sunday. They emphasized the joke God played on the devil and sang Easter carols composed by Pastor Lintern. He handed out joy scriptures and people read them, one at a time. The church offered a skit where ushers acted like flight attendants on their pre-flight talks, except it was about worship and resurrection. "Great fun," Lintern said.

How will WPC celebrate Holy Humor Sunday? Don’t miss it!

Be here and join in the fun onApril 8, 2018.

The devil thought he had won.

Finally, he had struck at the heart of God by dealing the death blow to God’s Son, Jesus. The devil could not trip up Jesus throughout his years walking the earth. He had tried to tempt Jesus to take short cuts to accomplish his mission (Matthew 4 and Luke 4). Even during his last few hours while praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had asked his Father if there might be some alternative to the cross (Matthew 26:36-42). The devil must have that hoped Jesus would give up. But no. Jesus went through with it. Finally, the devil had seen Jesus give up his spirit at the end of his life, and breath his last breath on that cross. It was finished.

Leading up to the cross, the devil put Jesus through the most difficult time imaginable. He had entered the heart of Judas, one of Jesus’ disciples, to manipulate Judas’ betrayal. He had stoked the flames of injustice at Jesus’ trial, corrupting even the religious leaders. Before Pilate, he had whipped up the crowd to cry out, “Crucify!” When the insurgent Barabbas was brought forth, a man truly guilty of a crime worth capital punishment, the crowd called for Barabbas’ release instead of Jesus. He had fueled the fury of the Roman soldiers who mocked and beat Jesus, shoved on the crown of thorns, and eventually drove the nails. It was brutal. The devil must have been reveling in it all.

Then, suddenly, as Jesus breathed his last, things started to happen. The veil in the Temple in Jerusalem that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying that the barrier that separated God from people was no more. The earth shook. Tombs opened up, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life, and visited Jerusalem (Matthew 27:51-53). Even the Roman centurion standing watch had been so overwhelmed that he exclaimed, “Surely, this is the Son of God,” (Matthew 27:54). What did the devil think of all this? What just happened?

No matter. Jesus’ fate was sealed. It appeared his mission had failed. The devil thought he had won.

Then, Sunday came. Angels blew the stone from the entrance of the tomb. The guards had fainted dead away at the sight. Life came back into Jesus’ body. Death had been reversed. Death had been overcome! Death had been defeated by an unquenchable life! Jesus was raised from the dead, resurrected, and alive forevermore! And because Jesus lives, we also will live, if we put our faith in him.

I think it is so fitting that Easter Sunday, the Day of Resurrection, comes on April Fool’s Day this year. Just to see the look on the devil’s face as Jesus blasted out of that tomb would be the ultimate April Fool’s joke. And then, when he realized that Jesus’ death had forgiven our sin, the sin that would send people his way instead of

heavenward, it must have stung even worse. Finally, when the devil realized Jesus’ resurrection makes the way for OUR resurrection to eternal life with God, something the devil would never have, it was the ultimate “GOTCHA!”

As we all progress as followers of Jesus this month, I hope we can walk through life’s pathways—the difficult and the smooth—with a smile on our faces fueled by the joy that comes from knowing Jesus has defeated the devil, death, and the grave once and for all so that we can have abundant eternal life.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving:

O Lord, you are my shepherd.Thank you for fulfilling my needs,leading me along safe pathwaysand restoring my soul. Amen.

Our Mission Team leader, Elder Deb Minturn, tells us the NOISY CAN COLLECTIONS for the month of April will go to Grace Connection! Fill the shopping cart for Helping Hands with chunky soup!

The first Sunday of each month we leave the HUNGER BASKET at the Greeters table in the front hall – all cash donations will go to Towanda Area Christian Outreach (TACO). Throughout the year WPC will continue to support our local charities: Hezekiah’s Hands, Helping Hands Food Pantry, Endless Mountains Pregnancy Care Center, Grace Connection and the Wyalusing Youth Group. Our mission work assets two men & their families who grew up in our church: Cam Smith – now at Carson-Newman University and David Howard in Papua New Guinea [check out the bulletin board in the Sigler Hall to read the most recent postings from Rev. Cameron Smith & RUF and the Howard family & Wycliffe Bible Translations .]

Wyalusing Presbyterian Church received the One Great Hour of Sharing offering (envelopes and ‘fish banks’) on Palm Sunday and again on Easter Sunday.

Our treasurer, Barb Hugo, has shared some stats from previous years' giving.  Can we set a new record for 2018?

2017: 516.152016: 548.002015: 614.502014: 867.20

So far the offering has totaled $110.00 …….

The Noisy Can offering for February collected $100.05 to go towards kids going to Camp Lackawanna.  We also gave the Communion Sunday offering of $30.00 to the Hunger Basket that benefits T.A.C.O.     The can offering for March goes to Camp Lackawanna, with the Communion Sunday offering of $24.06 going to the Hunger Basket. Other projects we are working on:

Making welcome bags for the residents of the new housing development.

Collecting items for Helping HandsWe will be contacting the Pregnancy Care Center for a list of items we can collect for their center"Kindness and a generous spirit go a long way—& a sense of humor, it's like medicine — very healing." – Max Irons

“The resurrection … was only the beginning

of a great, grand and vast outreachthat has never ended and will not enduntil our Lord Jesus Christ comes back

again.”—A.W. Tozer

… from the DEACONS BENCH Colleen Brown, Sue Fenton, Marleah Stevens Marilyn Ross, & Cari McCarty, Karen Bond,

Julie Gamble and Carman Eberlin

MINUTES from March 18, 2018.The meeting was opened in prayer by Karen Bond

FOR INFORMATION: ●Deacon in charge of Greeters/Ushers for APRIL ---Karen Bond●Deacon to serve Communion in APRIL: Cari McCarty●Next Meeting date is 04/15/2018 right after worship.

OLD BUSINESS: We fixed four fruit and candy baskets for the home-bound or those in need of TLC. Six boxes were created and sent to our college students. Each Deacon donated items to create these goodie /boxes. Thank You for your generosity Deacons. Continued Prayers for the children of Belize: Specifically Jamie Tracy, Susie Westby, Whitney Garbutt, Denzel Garbutt & little Stephanie Logan.  

Meals for Barry and Karen were provided for several weeks.

DEACON ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY-MARCH:→Birthday Cards: (2)→CONGRATULATIONS: (1) Erica’s baby→Get Well Cards: (12)→Misc. Cards: (1)→Sympathy Cards: (11) Families: Amy Eberlin, Heather Wickwire, Lew Reinhart, Margaret Dabback, Jeanette Chamberlin→TLC/Thinking of You Cards: (9)→ College students: (6) Goodie Boxes→Homebound/In need: (4) Easter Baskets of fruit and Candy were created and delivered. Nice visits with our very special people.→Visits: (14)→Phone Calls: (12)→Emails: (4)→Deeds, including meals: (12)

The meeting was closed in prayer by Julie Gamble.

Respectfully Submitted, Marilyn Ross, Deacon Secretary

CELEBRATE GIFT OF LIFE WEEKENDAPRIL 13-15 This memorable weekend, held during National Donate Life Month, will be filled with event to support organ & tissue donation. GiftofLifeWEEKEND.org

Tuesday Night Bible Study

Bible Study News: Our Tuesday Evening Bible Study will continue through the month of April on each Tuesday at 6:30 PM. We are studying 2 Corinthians.

Horizons Bible Study “Cloud of Witnesses: The Community of Christ in Hebrews” 2017-2018 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study by Melissa Bane Savier

Commentary by Rosalind BanburyLesson 8: “The Community with the Household of Faith” (Hebrews 3:1-6; Numbers 12:; James 2: 1-4;)

“…the household of faith refers to the life of community who seek to be faithful to God. New Testament letter writers use a lot of ink describing the Christian life. Romans 12;9-21 is referred to as ‘the marks of a true Christian’ and teaches, among many other things, to ‘love another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor…Bless those who persecute you.” 1 Corinthians 13 is a lengthy description of the importance of Christian love.….”

Patricia K. Tull asks these questions in her commentary on Lesson 8 (“Belonging to the Whole”)

1. What sources of cohesion and tension do you see in your own family? How do family members interact with one another, and what do they do to get along??

2. How do you fit into your family? Whom do you rely on and whom do you support? Who serves as a model for you and who looks up to yu?

3. A church is often a somewhat looser family, but some of the same dynamics apply. What roles do you see yourself in as you think about your local congregation?

Copies of the commentaries for lesson 8 are available in the church office.

AROUND THE PRESBYTERY

APRIL 11 - Composting and Gardening Tips for Home and Community Gardens,

7:00 PM, The Institute, FUPC West Pittston (40 Institute Street, Wyoming) 

APRIL 14 - Flea Market, Food and Bake Sale; 9:00 AM-2:00 PM, Church of Christ Uniting, Kingston, to benefit mission projects

From Our Friends and Neighbors:

APRIL 6-8 - Singing for Our Lives: A Women's Singing Event, Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA, kirkridge.org

APRIL 12-15 - Immersion: An Invitation to a Deeper Spiritual Life, Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary, lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu

APRIL 13 - Sacred Activism, Kirkridge Retreat Center, Bangor, PA, kirkridge.org

APRIL 16-MAY 14 - Online Course, Biblical Interpretation, Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary, upsem.edu/leadership-institute

APRIL 19-20 - Christian Educators' Think Tank, Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary, lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu

APRIL 24-27 - Princeton Forum on Youth Ministry, Princeton Theological Seminary, iymforum.com

APRIL 30-MAY 2 - Eastern Region of Association of Presbyterian Church Educators, Rhodes Grove Conference Center, Chambersburg, PA, apcenet.org

“Easter is the soul’s first taste of spring.”

—Richelle Goodrich

The study group meets on the third Friday of each month at 10:30 a.m. September through June.

BUT! Our April meeting will be a week later because of the GOOD STUFF YARD SALE. You will find us on April 27 in the choir room at WPC. We welcome the fellowship of all the women of the church and the community who wish to participate.

Thank you for the care packages that you have sent to me throughout the past semester at school. They really brighten my day and help toward relieving some of the stresses that come with college classes.

… to everyone for donations and help with the Margaret Dabback dinner: Lin Heath, Marilyn Ross, Lorna Snyder, Marleah Stevens, Lynn Petlock , Rachel Sznaider, George & Barb Hugo, Sylvia Ballard, Barry Ballard, Ryan Ross, Julie Gamble, Kay Homer, Amy Jensen and Sue Fenton!

… from Towanda Area Christian Outreach (TACO) Food Pantry --- Thank you for your donation of $123.50 given on February 3, 2018. This gift is very appreciated and it will help us to continue our mission to provide food assistance to those in our

local community in need. This need is a constant presence in our community…During 2017, we served 3,007 families totaling 7,393 individuals. We also served 1,661 senior families through our Elder Share/Fresh Express programs. Thank you for remembering us with this donation.

Sincerely, Sandra L Niuman,

A BIG THANK YOU to Financial Secretary Pat Hoffman for the long list of thank you notes she has written throughout the years acknowledging the many memorial gifts given to the church in the name

of loved ones. Your tasteful and thoughtful notes are very much appreciated!

March was a busy month for all, but we are grateful for the fine music provided by our friends on these Sundays: March 4 – Diana Black’s winter songs for the piano;

March 11 – everybody joining on a favorite hymn of Marie Jenner: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”; March 18 – our Sunday School kids brightening the day ‘marching in the Lord’s army’, and we all celebrated the procession of the palms on this Palm Sunday.

Thank you for the care packages that you have sent to me throughout the past semester at school. They really brighten my day and help toward relieving some of the stresses that come with college classes.

Good Friends in Christ,For your concern, for your caring, for your prayers during Margaret’s illness, for your help and the assistance you have offered me, I am most grateful. John H. Dabback

Dear Church Family, We want to thank you all for everything you have done for us. All of your visits, food, card, thought, and prayers are all greatly appreciated. God bless you all!

Love, Ruth & Bob Brown

Dear Church FamilyThank you for the many kindnesses

extended to me and my family during these past weeks. Your cards, phone calls, food and hugs helped to ease my pain.

The dinner you prepared following Lew’s Memorial Service was above and beyond and was excellent.

A great big thank you to Diana for the music and to Reverand Barry for his message which brought joy to my heart.

In Christian love,Jean Reinhart and Family

FOLLOWING GOD’S LEAD Jazz musician Thomas Dorsey traveled an unlikely road to become the “father of black gospel music.” At age 11, he dropped out of school to be a vaudeville performer and blues pianist. While Dorsey recovered from a nervous breakdown at age 21, his mother urged him to serve the Lord with his talents. It took several years, but the musician committed to composing spiritual songs — rejected by many mainstream churches as “the devil’s music.” In 1932, after Dorsey’s wife and infant son died during childbirth, he channeled his grief into the piano, writing “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” Known to be a favorite song of Martin Luther King Jr., it ends with these lyrics: “Through the

MEN’S BREAKFAST April 29, 2018 8 A.M.

Youth Group News: Youth Group meets every Sunday evening at 5:00 PM. As we enter Springtime, let’s keep this thing going. Hopefully, we can get out and stretch our legs a little with some fun events. Keep up with us weekly via the Wyalusing Youth Group Facebook Page.

Scott, Karen, and Barry are there to serve you. We hope all of you will continue to be part of the group.

If you are a 7th-12th grader, even if you have never come to Youth Group before, you are welcome any and every time.

BIBLE QUIZIn John 10, what metaphor does Jesus use to describe himself?

A. “I am the gate …” B. “I am the good shepherd …” C. Both A and B D. Neither A nor B Answer: C (See John 10:9, 1

GOOD STUFF YARD SALEIS OFFICIALLY ON!

… Thank you, thank you, Melissa Nowland 

for stepping up to chair this event. 

April 16-April 19 are collection and set up dates

SALE DATES ARE APRIL 20 AND 21.

Please let Melissa knowhow you will help!

+ Christian Symbol +

Phoenix — According to ancient legend, the phoenix lived for 500 to 1,400 years (depending on the version of the myth), at which time it would set its nest ablaze and be consumed in the flames. After three days the bird would be reborn and was said to repeat this cycle, “rising from the ashes” again and again. Early Christians saw in the phoenix a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection and of eternal

CHANGE AGENTSA cartoon depicts a man at a podium firing up a crowd. “Who wants change?” he shouts. You can almost hear the excitement and urgency. “We do!” the listeners cry, all raising their hands. But the next frame features a follow-up question: “Who wants to change?” The audience is silent and somber, with their hands down.The gospel Jesus announced and lived out promises monumental change: life instead of death, healing from sickness, hope to replace despair, peace and justice instead of war and oppression. Although God could wave his hand and make the world perfect, he chooses to work through humans. That means we must be willing to change too. Change can be scary, but God’s

OUR ALL-IN-ALL What the hand is to the lute,What the breath is to the flute,What is fragrance to the smell?What the spring is to the well,What the flower is to the bee,That is Jesus Christ to me.

What’s the mother to the child?What the guide in pathless wild?What is oil to troubled wave?What is ransom to the slave?What is water to the sea?That is Jesus Christ to me.

—C.H. Spurgeon

As spring blossoms all around us,may our hearts also bloom with love and peace.

CHECK OUT recent editions of The Presbyterian Outlook for complete reviews:

OF PIZZA AND SIN Whenever I’m in Chicago, I feel driven, as if by unseen forces, into a deep-dish-pizza restaurant. My recent visit was no exception. As soon as I stepped off the plane, the cravings began. Soon I was in a pizzeria, awaiting a handmade pie with giddy anticipation. It was a sad scene. I was dining alone, so there was no pretext of community; I was just there to gorge myself.And that’s precisely what I did. After a few slices, I hit a wall but consumed one more. One too many, it turned out. While maneuvering away from the table, I realized: Deep-dish is a lot like sin. Both start with bliss but end in misery. Both take you further than you wanted to go, faster than you wanted to get there. And both require confession. So that’s what I’m doing here. I hope you’ll absolve me. Next time, I’ll try to eat less.

—Drew Dyck,

WEEKLY GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPHelp & encouragement after the death

of a spouse, child, family member, or friend.Sheldon Funeral Home

Thursdays 7 – 8:30 p.m.through MAY 17, 2018Open To All - No Cost

For InformationCall 570-869-1350 or 5870-746-3976

BOOK REVIEWSHOLY SOLITUDE: Lenten Reflections with Saints, Hermits, Prophets and Rebels March 19, 2018 by Roy Howard Heidi Haverkamp WJK Press, 148 pages Heidi Haverkamp is an Episcopal priest who previously delighted readers with “Advent in Narnia: Reflections for the Season.”

In “Holy Solitude,” she opens the door for a deeper practice of Lent that will strengthen disciples for the life of faithful living. Haverkamp is an oblate in the Benedictine tradition, and the influence is sensed here. Not only is she mindful of busy schedules and the necessity of disciplines laid out in a calendar, but also the value of exemplars to guide our practice. The book is an invitation to learn from those who have gone before us: saints, rebels, prophets and hermits. It’s an opportunity to follow a wise guide into a more holy life equipped and fortified by simple practices. Each day of Lent has a story, a Scripture and a suggested practice. The reader will encounter Saint Francis and Jeremiah, Julian of Norwich and Isaiah, Dorothy Day and Howard Thurman, whose lives inspire us in a more faithful way. Haverkamp …

THE PARISH IS THE ISSUE: What I Learned and how I Learned It March 15, 2018 by Eric Peltz

Loren B. Mead Morehouse Publishing, 144 pages When I sat down to eat with Loren Mead several months ago, I excitedly told him that my dream in life was

to grow up to do what he did at the Alban Institute. I was surprised at his chuckle and quick, knowing response: “Well, I would recommend that you don’t do that. At least not the way I did it.” He then handed me the story of how he began the modern congregational consulting movement and why. “The Parish Is the Issue” reads like the weaving together of a spiritual memoir and a history book. Mead begins with his sense of call to ministry and the experience of pastoring rural and collegiate churches. Anyone who has served on a church’s governing board or attempted pastoral leadership can instantly relate to Mead’s story. Reflecting on a redesign and eventual failure for his church’s governance structure, he writes: “But the darned people didn’t want to work in the perfect structure I had developed. … I think it took me three years …

KARL BARTH: An Introductory Biography for Evangelicals March 7, 2018 by Andy Nagel Mark Galli, editor-in-chief at Christianity Today, has written an engaging and readable portrait of a towering figure, showing how Barth’s voice and thought presents an incisive

critique to the ways the Christian faith is perceived of and practiced in the United States today.  Though it is aimed at encouraging evangelicals toward a more receptive posture to Barth, it is relevant to and raises questions for people across the theological spectrum. Galli leads us through Barth’s pugnacious life from boyhood through his early pastorate in Safenwil and his theological reorientation away from liberalism after World War One.  Two chapters are devoted to the Romans commentary, famously described as the “bombshell on the playground of the theologians.”  These chapters and the account of Barth’s early academic life paint an arresting picture of Barth as “an unknown pastor [writing a] manuscript [that] went completely …

OUR TRUE POWER SOURCE The story is told of someone who plugged a power strip into itself and then couldn’t understand why the system wouldn’t turn on! We get a kick out of such tales, yet how often do we try to “power” our own lives? We frequently think we need to be the source of our own strength, joy, peace, energy and wisdom. Jesus doesn’t teach us to find life within ourselves — or in any human being or earthly circumstance, object or philosophy. Rather, calling himself the good shepherd, Jesus says, “I have come that [my sheep] may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). We don’t access that abundant life by “plugging into” ourselves. Instead, Jesus invites us to plug into his power — and joy, peace, hope, truth — through prayer and Scripture, worship and service, fellowship with other Christians and the beauty of God’s world.

WHY WE NEED EASTER No one is exempt from tragedy or disappointment — even God was not exempt. Jesus offered no immunity, no way out of the unfairness, but rather a way through it to the other side. Just as Good Friday demolished the instinctive belief that this life is supposed to be fair, Easter Sunday followed with its startling clue to the riddle of the universe. Out of

the darkness, a bright light shone. …

The cross of Christ may have overcome evil, but it did not overcome unfairness. For that, Easter is required, a bright clue that

someday God will restore all physical reality to its proper place.

—Philip Yancey, Disappointment With God

RAISE YOUR VOICE!

With happy voices ringing,thy children, Lord, appear,

their joyous praises bringingin anthems sweet and clear.For skies of golden splendor,

for azure rolling sea,for blossoms sweet and tender,

O Lord, we worship thee.

—William Tarrant

God’s kids say & do the funniest things A mother and her 5-year-old son entered the church to attend the morning service, but she couldn't sit with him because she sang in the choir. So she asked the boy's grandfather to accompany him. Realizing that the grandfather always nodded off during services, she gave her son 50 cents to keep him awake. Halfway through the sermon, the mother glanced down from the choir loft, and saw and heard the grandfather snoring away. After the service, the mother asked why the boy didn't do his "paid job" of keeping his grandfather awake. "But Grandpa gave me a dollar to let him sleep," the boy replied.

‒ via Rev. Bill Park from his book Go Ahead and Laugh!

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1, NIV). Thank you, God, for claiming me as your child.